U.S. calls decision by Turkey to seize newspaper 'troubling'

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on
Friday called the decision by Turkish authorities to seize
control of the country's largest newspaper "troubling."

"We see this as the latest in a series of troubling judicial
and law enforcement actions taken by the Turkish government
targeting media outlets and others critical of it," State
Department spokesman John Kirby told a news briefing.

Turkish authorities seized control of the Zaman newspaper on
Friday at the request of an Istanbul prosecutor, state-run
Anadolu Agency reported, in a widening crackdown against
supporters of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, an
influential foe of President Tayyip Erdogan.
(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)